Florida GrandDriver® Tips to
Help with Driving Problems

By age 65, hearing loss occurs to 39% of people.
High sounds go first, making sirens difficult
to hear. Background noises can significantly distort
sound and interfere with your driving. A turn
signal left on because you don’t hear it
can cause a crash.

Have your hearing checked annually.

Turn off the radio.

Check exhaust pipes and have bad ones replaced
before they become noisy.

Keep air conditioner or heater fan on the
lowest setting to reduce background noise.

Because approximately 90% of the cues you get
while driving come through sight, you must recognize
and understand these age-related changes in vision:
slower focusing, poor vision in dim light, difficulty
seeing in bright sun or glare, reduced peripheral
vision.

These changes don’t always show up on eye
exams, but they do affect your ability to drive
safely. Being able to see road signs and signals,
other vehicles, and pedestrians is affected by
more than just visual acuity.Keep your glasses,
windows, mirrors, and headlights clean.

Avoid driving at night and when visibility
is poor.

If you must drive at night, don’t wear
sunglasses of any kind.

Have your vision checked annually.

Clean the inside and outside of windshield
and windows.

Clean headlights and mirrors.

Give your eyes a few minutes to adjust to
changes in light and dark. Use this time to
fasten seat belt and adjust mirrors.

If you can’t see over the steering wheel,
sit on a cushion or pillow make sure you can
still reach the gas and brake pedals.

Drinking alcohol
impairs judgment, slows reflexes, distorts decision-making,
and hinders coordination. And you don't have to
be a problem drinker to have alcohol-related driving
problems, because alcohol tolerance decreases
with age. If you drink, don’t drive.

Both prescription and over-the-counter medications
have side effects that can affect your ability
to drive safely. Whenever you take any medication,
ask your pharmacist or physician about driving.